Block handling apparatus



June 6, 1950 R. M. GRAY 2,510,573

BLOCK HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 13, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 a .4 .l K/I'? E II 1 [/4 h --Z5 y/" &4; 1/7 H 3 A, /09 /0 E] INVENTOR.

ROBERT M. GRAY ii 5151 J June 6, 1950 R. M. GRAY BLOCK HANDLING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed. March 13, 1948 INVENTOR. H DB ERT M. E RAY ATTDA EY June 6, 1950 R. M. GRAY BLOCK HANDLING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 13, 1948 INVENTOR. RD E ERT m. GRAY June 6, 1950 R. M. GRAY 2,510,573

BLOCK HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 15, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 .AT'TEI June 6, 1950 R. M. GRAY 2,510,573

BLOCK HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 13, 1943 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

FxD BERT I LGRAY June 6, 1950 R. M. GRAY 2,510,573

BLOCK HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 13, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 I32 INVENTOR. HUBERT MJBFEAY ATT June 6, 1950 R. M. GRAY 2,510,573

BLOCK HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 15, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 I I I r I I INVENTOR.

ROBERT I LEI RAY ATTEIR NEY June 6, 1950 R. M. GRAY 2,510,573

BLOCK HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 13, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 CIR/6 CRIS INVENTOR. RUBEFET IYLGRAY June 6, 1950 R. M. GRAY 2,510,573

BLOCK HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 13, 1948 9 sheets sheet 9 INVENTOR. RUEE T m. GRAY A TTORNE Patented June 6, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BLOCK HANDLING APPARATUS Robert M. Gray, Florence, Ala.

Application March 13, 1948, Serial No. 14,665

' 11 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for handling concrete blocks as they are delivered from a. concrete block making machine, and particularly to a machine for loading and unloading the racks in which the blocks are placed and put in kilns for curing and removed from the kilns after curing.

In my prior Patent No. 2,423,557, dated July 8, 1947, I show, describe and claim apparatus including a circular kiln in which the blocks are cured, together with means to support a multiplicity of racks in the kiln and to load and unload them one rack at a time, as they are moved around the kiln. My present invention is an improvement on that described and claimed in my prior patent aforesaid in that it involves a stationary conveyor and a shuttle conveyor which telescopes into the stationary conveyor and movable outwardly to load and unload the racks, together with means for raising and lowering the shuttle conveyor to accommodate it to the different elevations at which the blocks are loaded or unloaded in the racks.

A particular object of my invention is to provide conveying apparatus for loading and unloading the curing racks for concrete blocks which shall include conveying mechanism with means to raise and lower it to accommodate different elevations in the rack, whereby a, rack may be loaded with uncured blocks without disturbing the position of the rack and with a minimum of movement of the blocks.

As is well known in the art to which my invention relates, concrete blocks, when freshly made, are relatively fragile, and must be handled with a minimum of disturbance or else they will break. One of the principal items or loss in the manuiacture of concrete blocks has heretofore been caused b the breakage of uncured blocks in handling. My present invention provides a means for handling these blocks with a minimum of jostling of the blocks and without the necessity of constructing a, circular kiln as shown in my prior patent.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part 01' this application, in which Fig. l is a fragmental, entirely diagrammatic plan view of a block making plant having my invention installed therein;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation, partly in section, of the conveying apparatus employed in loading the racks, and showing the shuttle conveyor in extended position, the

2 retracted position being indicated in dotted lines:

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV--IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view taken along the line V--V of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram of the controls for the motor on the stationary conveyor of the loading machine;

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram of. the motor controls for the shuttle conveyor in the loading machine;

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram of the motor controls for the rack conveyor;

Fig. 10 is a schematic wiring diagram of all the controls for the loading machine Fig. 11 is a side elevation view or the unloading machine;

Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram of the motor controls for the delivery shuttle conveyor of the unloading machine;

Fig. 13 is a wiring diagram of the motor controls of the stationary unloading conveyor;

Fig. 14 is a wiring diagram of the motor con trols for the delivery conveyor of the unloading machine;

Fig. 15 is a wiring diagram of the motor control for the rack conveyor employed when the unloader is being used separately from the loader:

Fig. 16 is a schematic wiring diagram of all the controls for the unloading machine; and

Fig. 17 is a plan view of the rotary selector member.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I show in Fig. 1, a concrete block making plant embodying a block making machine ill, a conveyor II for conveying pallets loaded with blocks from the machine ill, a rack conveyor I! having a, multiplicity of racks l3 thereon. At II I show my improved loading machine for loading the racks II with uncured blocks, and at it I show my improved unloadin machine for removing the pallets with blocks thereon from the racks from whence they are delivered to a conveyor [1. The blocks may be removed from the pallets by any suitable apparatus not shown, and the pallets returned to the block making machine by means of suitable conveying apparatus l9.

It will be understood that the rack conveyor I2 is of indeterminate length and may, if desired. extend into a curing kiln, not shown. It is contemplated that the loaded racks, l3, loaded with cured blocks from a. kiln, not shown, will be placed upon the rlghthand end or the conveyor shown in Fig. 1 and moved to the left as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, in front of the unloading machine l6, where the cured blocks are removed and delivered as just described. The empty racks l3 are then moved by the conveyor I2 in front of the loading machine l4 and are there reloaded with uncured blocks to be delivered to a drying kiln, not shown. Each of the racks I3 is comprised of a rectangular frame having upright members 22 at the corners thereof which are joined together along their sides by angles 23 having their flanges turned inward to provide shoulders for support in the pallets P. The upright members are joined together transversely by means of transverse structural members 24 and 25 at the top and bottom, respectively, see Fig. 2.

In Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, I show in detail the apparatus for loading the racks l3. The loading and unloading machines I4 and K6 are identical in construction, but operate in a reverse order. A description of the construction of one of the machines will accordingly serve for both, except for the operating controls. The loading machine is shown in Figs. 3150 6 of the drawing and comprises a stationary conveyor mounted in a generally rectangular frame having vertical members 3! joined together by structural frame members 32 and 33 at top and bottom, respectively. The upper transverse members 32, as shown in Fig. 4, do not extend all the way across, but join adjacent vertical members 3!. Extending longitudinally of the frame and joining the members 3| at the top are a pair of angles 34 on one side of the frame and a similar pair of angles 36 on the other side of the frame. On top of the angles are plates 34a and 3% on which is mounted a shaft 31 at the pallet receiving end of the conveyor. At the pallet discharge end of the conveyor are mounted two short shafts 38 and 39 on the plates 34a and 360, respectively. The shafts 31, 38, and 39 carry suitable sprockets on which are mounted conveyor chains 4| and 42. The conveyor chains 4| and 42 are driven by a-motor IM through a chain '43 and sprockets 44 mounted on the outer end of the shaft 31. The controls for the motor IM will be described later. Mounted on the pltaes 34a and Sliaare longitudinally extending angles 46 and 41 having their flanges turned inwardly to extend under and form a support for the upper flights of the conveyor chains 4| and 42.

Disposed to receive the pallets P with their blocks B from the stationary conveyor just described is a shuttle conveyor which is supported for operation by means of a rectangular fra'me having four vertically disposed I beams 52, 53, and 54 at the corners. The I beams are joined together at the top by means of horizontally extending structural members 56 which are in turn joined together by a pair of channels 51 and 5B midway between their ends. On the channels 51 and 58 is mounted a hydraulic cylinder 59 having a piston rod El extending downwardly therefrom.

Suspended from the piston rod ii is a cradle frame which is generally rectangular in shape to fit within the confines of the I beams 5!, 52, 53 and 54. The cradle frame is composed of vertically extending channel members 62, '"63, 64 and 66 which are joined together'at top and bottom by means of longitudinally extending channel members 61, 6B, 59 and H. A pair of transverse channel members 12 join the members 61 and B8 and are connected to the piston rod 6| as shown in Fig. 6. Flanged rollers 13 mounted on the corners of the frame just describedcoopcrate between the frame and the I beams Si, 52. 53 and 54 to guide the frame in its vertical move ment.

Mounted within the cradle frame just described, for reciprocation therein, is a shuttle conveyor which will now be described. The shuttle conveyor is comprised of longitudinal frame members I4 and 15 in the form of channels with their flanges turned outwardly. The channels 14 and 15 are so spaced :as to enter freely between the side members 22 of the racks l3 and also to enter between the angle members 46 and 41 of the stationary conveyor frame. A pair of brackets to, only one of which is shown, are mounted on the vertical members 64 of the cradle frame and a similar pair of brackets 11 are mounted on the vertical members 66 of the cradle frame. Rollers 18 are mounted on the inward ends of the brackets 16 to fit within the flanges of the channel I4 and similar rollers 19 are mounted on the inward ends of the brackets 11 to fltbetween the flanges of the channel 15. Mounted at the ends of the channels 14 and 15 are transverse shafts BI and 82 carrying sprockets for the reception of conveyor chains 83 and 84. As will be seen in Fig. 6, the upper flights of the conveyor chains 83 and 84 rest on and are supported by the upper flanges of the channels l4 and T5. The channels 14 and 15 are joined together at their ends, for transverse support. by transverse channel members 86 and B1.

Suspended from the channels 14 and "P5 is a U-shaped, relatively wide member 89, the bottom 9| thereof extending horizontally and having mounted thereon a driving motor 2M. Extending transversely of the -U-frame 89, above the motor 2M, is a. shaft li'i carrying a sprocket 93 which is driven from the motor 2M by means of a chain 94. On the outer ends of the shaft 92 are sprockets Wand 91 which engage with the lower flights of the conveyor chains '83 and 84 to drive them. Extending downwardly from the bottom 9! of the U-frame '89 isan angle member 98 having a downwardly opening slot 99 therein which, when the U-frame is in'its lowest position, straddles a piston rod ll of a hydraulic cylinder 102 which is employed to reciprocate the shuttle conveyor. Nuts IM'and H14 on the piston rod are disposed to engage the member 98 on the opposite sides thereof. As shown-the piston rod HH extends horizontally and is guided in its movements by means of a cross head Hi6 and guides Hi1 carried by the upright frame mem bers 3| of the stationary conveyor. The controls for the motor 2M and for the hydraulic cylinder I02 will be described later.

The rack conveyor 12,115 shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is of indeterminate length and is composed of a suitable number of A frames 108 to provide support therefor, bearings "being provided in the ups per ends of the frames for shafts HI upon which are mounted sprockets H2 and H3. Ate. suitable point in the length of the conveyor is mounted a drive shaft H4 having a. sprocket H6 on its outer end which is driven from a motor 3M and sprocket chain H1. Mounted on the sprockets H2 and H3 are'conveyor chains H8 and H9 which are joined together transversely by means of slats "I21. Carried by the slats are suitable means, not shown, for positioning the racks l3' thereon.

The operation of my improved loading apparatus, together with the controls for the motors and hydraulic cylinders, will now be described, Assuming first that the rack conveyor I2 is in position to provide an empty rack I3 with its open side in front of the shuttle conveyor, and that the hoist cradle carrying the shuttle conveyor is in its lowest position, and that the shuttle conveyor is advanced to extend into the empty rack. Electric energy for operating the controls is provided through wires LI, L2 and L3. The block machine It! is first started by closing a manually controlled switch, not shown. The block machine III delivers the first pallet P onto the stationary conveyor and in doing so strikes and closes a switch LSI on the block machine in the path of the pallet P. This closes relays CRI, Fig. 7, which in turn effects the closing of switch LCI to start motor IM on the stationary conveyor. The second pallet P, following the first, strikes switch LSI repeating the operation just described, and the first pallet advances on the stationary conveyor to close a second switch LS2, energizing a, relay CR2, to again close switch LCI, and cause the stationary conveyor to advance both pallets. The first pallet then strikes a switch LS3 in its path, which closes relay CR3, to eflect the closing of switch L02 and the Starting of motor 2M for operation of the shuttle conveyor. The second pallet is delivered onto the shuttle conveyor in the manner just described and strikes switch LS4, in its path on the shuttle conveyor which again effects the closing of switch LC2 by energizing a relay CR4 and continues the operation of motor 2M to advance both pallets onto the shuttle conveyor just short of its mid position and within the confines of the hoist cradle. As the first pallet assumes its position within the cradle on the shuttle conveyor just described, it strikes and closes a switch LS5 which closes relays CR1 and CR8 to energize a, coil for operation of valve IVI admitting fluid under pressure to the lower end of hydraulic cylinder 59 to raise the hoist and the cradle, and the shuttle conveyor to the top shelf of the rack. The valve IVI is of well known construction and is fully illustrated and described in my prior Patent No. 2,423,557, aforesaid.

Mounted on one of the channels 64 forming the shuttle conveyor cradle is a rotary member I 25 which is supported at its lower end in a, bearing I21 and is guided at the top by means of an encircling sleeve I30. The member I25 is pro vided with depressions I26, six in number to equal the number of shelves in a rack I3, plus one.

The depressions I26, except the two upper depressions I26a and I26b are spaced apart, vertically, a distance equal to the vertical distance between the shelves in the racks I3. They are also angularly disposed with respect to each other, 60 apart, for a purpose which will become apparent presently. Mounted on I beam 54 near the top thereof, is a. selector switch SS2. The switch SS2 has a stem I28 which is biased toward the rotary member I25 by means of a spring I29 to cause the end of the stem to enter the depressions I26a, I26!) and I26 as will be explained.

When the valve IVI has been opened to admit hydraulic fluid to the lower end of the cylinder 69, as previously described, the cradle with the shuttle conveyor is raised to its highest position, at which time the stem I28 of the selector switch SS2 drops into the lowest notch I26 on the rotary member I25. This closes selector switch LS6 and opens switch LS'I to again start the shuttle conveyor motor 2M. This advances the pallets, with their blocks, into the rack, above the inwardly turned flanges of the angle members 23 forming the upper shelf.

- When the first pallet reaches its outer position in the rack I3, it strikes and closes a switch LS8 on the outer end of the shuttle conveyor. The switch LS8, as shown in Figs. 8 and 10, is a double throw switch. When closed by the action of the first pallet, the lower contacts thereof, as viewed in Fig. 8 are closed, and the upper contacts opened. The upper contacts control switch L02 through relay CR3 and when opened, open the circuit to stop the motor 2M. The lower contacts of switch LS8 control the magnetically operated valve IV2, similar to valve IVI, through relay CR9, to exhaust fluid from the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder 59 permitting the cradle and the shuttle conveyor to move downwardly to its loading position to receive the next pallets from the block making machine, as previously described.

Carried by the rotary member I25, at the lower end thereof, are six pins I3I, see Fig. 17, which are angularly disposed with respect to each other 60 apart. As the top shelf of the rack I3 is being loaded, the first pallet, with its blocks, entering the rack l3 strikes one of the pins I3I rotating the member I25 60 thereby moving the stem I28 of the selector switch SS2 out of the lowest depression I26. This places the second depression I26b from the top in vertical alignment with the pin I28 of the selector switch SS2. As the pallets move onto the shuttle conveyor and the shuttle conveyor is raised in the rack, as previously described, the pin I28 drops into the second depression I 26b so that the shelf next to the top of the rack is then loaded. The movement of the pallets into the rack again rotates the member I25 and the next depression is placed in line with the pin I28, and so on, until the rack is filled. Each of the depressions I26 are so located on the member I25 as to stop the shuttle conveyor at a point just above the associated shelf 23 in the rack when loading the rack.

In all of the operations described, it will be understood that the shuttle conveyor moves the pallets outwardly above the shelf being loaded and is then lowered to allow the pallets to rest upon the shelf. When the lowest shelf in the rack is being loaded, the pin I28 will be seated in the depression I26b so that the pallet will move out over the lowest shelf. When the cradle and the shuttle conveyor are then lowered to release the pallet, the pin I28 drops into the depression I260 to lower the cradle and the shuttle conveyor below the lowest shelf in the rack. The rotary member I25 has now been rotated a complete 360 which brings the lowest notch into vertical alignment with the pin I28 for the next cycle of operation. At the lower end of the rotary member I25 is a pin I32 in position, when the cradle with the shuttle conveyor has reached its highest position, to strike and close a switch LS! carried by the I beam 54. Closing the switch LS9 energizes the coil controlling the magnetically operated valve 3V2, similar to the valve shown in my prior patent aforesaid, through a relay CRIB, to admit fluid into the end of hydraulic cylinder I02 to retract the piston rod IIiI and the shuttle conveyor, the angle member 96 on the lower end of the shuttle conveyor frame having taken its position over the rod ll, between nuts I63 and HM, when the shuttle conveyor was lowered.

As the piston rod IIII is withdrawn, the angle member 98 strikes and closes a switch LSIII, carried by the stationary conveyor, which controls switch L03 through relay CR5 to energize motor 3M andmovethermckscmiveyor; As the rack conveyor moves. a. rack": I B strikes switch ISI I, alongside thebonveror. opening. its lower contacts and'olosing'tlie upper. This. breaks the circuit to motor 3M and, through relay CR6 energizes magnetic valve 3Vl to admit hydraulic fluid to the outerxendof hydraulic cylinder I02 to move piston rod lfll'outwardly with the shuttle conveyor into. an empty rack; The operations described are repeated as each: rack is loaded.

As hereinbefore mentioned. the unloading machine I6 is similar in all respects to the loading machine I4, except for the controls. Mounted on the side oi. the cradleirame oi the unloader is a. rotary switch member I25 similar to the switch member I25 associated with the loading machine. Mounted. on the side of the cradle frame opposite the rotary switch member I25 in the path of pallets being removed from the rack, as shown in Fig. 18, is a. resilient yieldable switch member I36 having its upper end secured at I31 tothe oneoi' the I beammembers 53 and with its lower end tree to move horizontally. The member I36 carries a switch bar I38 with contacts I35 which are adapted to control the exhaust or fluid fromthe cylinder 59 in a manner to bedescribed later.

Referring now to Figs. 11 to 16 inclusive. assums first that a loaded rack I3 is in position in front of the unloads! machine for the shuttle conveyor to enter into the rack to unload it. A manually operated switch PSI is closed to energize magnetically operated valve 3V3 through relay CRII, admitting fluid into-theoutcr end of cylinder I02 to move the shuttle conveyor outwardly through its cradle into the loaded rack IS, under the lowest loaded shelf thereof. As the shuttle conveyor moves outwardly, member 98' on the bottom of the cradle frame strikes and closes switch LSI2 which energizes the operating coil of switch SS2 through relay CRI I, and closes contacts L8 to energize the magnetically operated valve IVS, opening it for fluid to enter the lower end of hoist cylinder 59'. The piston rod 6| moves upwardly taking with it the cradle and shuttle conveyor and clears the first row of pellets off its shelf. As the conveyor rises, stem I28 ofswltch SS3 moves out of the upper notch I26 of rotary switch member I25 into the next lower notch, corresponding to notch I26b in Fig. 10. This again closes contacts LSIi which start the motor 4M and the shuttle conveyor to carry the pallets out over stationary conveyor. As the pellets move out or the shuttle conveyor they first strike and close switch L815, then switch L516 and then switch LSl'l, to energize motors 5M and 6M through relays (JR-i5 and CRM respectlvely. Closing the upper contacts of switch LSl'l. as shown in Fig. 16, opens the lower contacts controlling motor BM for conveyor I1 and energizes the coil to switch SS3. This closes contacts LS to energize magnetically operated valve W3 and admit fluid again to the lower end of cylinder 59 to raise the-cradle and shuttle conveyor to engage the second row of pellets on the next to the lowest shelf of the rack I3 bein unloaded. As the pallets move outwardly, in unloading the lowest shell 01 the rack, they rotate the rotary member 1125 fill so that as the cradle moves upwardly, carrying with it the rotor member I25, the stem I28 of the switch SS3 drops into the third notch from the top thus opening the contacts LSM to stop the admission of fluid to the cylinder 59' and cl contact LSIB to energize motor 4M as previously described. The

Ito

depressions I25? iutheroterymember l2! are so: dlsnosedastc stopatheelevation otthe shuttle conveyor at the point Just above the, level 0! each shelf being unloaded. The. loaded pellets are thus lifted oil the. shelves and moved inward. ly by the shuttle conveyor. As the shuttle conveyor now moves the pallets of! the second shelf inwardly. they strike the switch member I36 to movethe switch bars, I38; closlnethe contacts I39.- and openineswitch bolt. This deenergizes motor 4M and stops the shuttle. conveyor from operating. Closing the contacts I38 and I39 energizes the. magnetically operated valve IVll. thus exhausting fluid from the lower end of cylinder 59' to allow the cradle with the shuttle conveyor to lower. As; soon as the pallet eneasing the flexible member' liiimoves downward- 1y below said member, tbecontacts I38 and It! are opened. thus deenergizing magnetically operated valve IV! to stop the descent of the shuttle conveyor. This closes switch LSIB again energizing motor 4M to operate-the shuttle conveyor and movethe pallets out as previously described.

The operation described. is continued until all the pallets have been removed from the shelvos of the rack and until pin I82 strikes and closes switch LSI9. This energizes the magnetically operated valve 3V4 to cause the piston rod III! to move inwardly, withdrawing the cradle and the shuttle conveyor from the empty rack. In this position the rotary member I25 controlling switch SS3 has been rotated to starting position. As the shuttle conveyor is moved outwardly, the member 98' strikes and closes the lower contacts of switch L820 which controls the operation of motor IM to operate the rack conveyor. It will be understood. however, that if the loading machine and the unloading machine are operating simultaneously, motor 3M will be controlled by the set of controls already described on the loading machine. When the rack conveyor moves the space of one rack, a rack strikes and closes the lower contacts of switch LSZI and opens the upper contacts, This energizes magnetically operated valve 3V3 through relay CRI? to admit fluid under pressure to the outer end of cylinder M2 to move the shuttle conveyor outwardly into the next loaded rack for the cycle of operations described to be repeated.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised apparatus for loading and unloading concrete blocks into and from racks having multiple superposed shelves, which apparatus is adapted to handle the blocks with a minimum of jostling, thereby greatly minimizing breakage and reducing the manual labor heretofore found necessary.

While I have shownmy invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for loading concrete blocks on pallets. into a rack multiple superposed shelves disposed to support the pellets at the sides thereof, a stationary horizontal conveyor for the blocks, a shuttle conveyor disposed to telescope within the stationary conveyor and to receive loaded pallets therein-om, a operated cylinder for moving the shutide conveyor loaded pallets onto the shuttle conveyor, means operable responsive to raising the shuttle conveyor above the uppermost empty shelf to move the loaded pallets outwardly above the empty shelf, and means operable upon movement of the loaded pallets to their outward position on the shuttle conveyor to lower it and deposit the pallets on the shelf and to move it to its initial position to receive additional loaded pallets.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including control means operable by movement of the loaded pallets on the shuttle conveyor for positioning the shuttle conveyor with respect to the shelves.

3. Apparatus for loading concrete blocks from a block making machine onto superposed shelves of a curing rack comprising a conveyor mounted for vertical and horizontal movement, means to deliver pallets loaded with blocks onto said conveyor, means for moving the conveyor horizontally inward of anempty rack, means operable responsive to the delivery of loaded pallets onto the conveyor for raising it to a position above an empty shelf, means operable responsive to arrival of the conveyor at said position to effect operation thereof to move the loaded pallets outwardly above the empty shelf, and means operable responsive to the arrival of said pallets at said latter position to lower the conveyor while in said outward position.

4. In apparatus for handling concrete blocks on pallets into and out of a curing rack having at least one lower and one upper shelf formed by lateral projections on opposite sides of the rack for engaging the pallets, a reciprocatory conveyor with means to extend the conveyor into the rack between the projections, means to raise and lower the conveyor while extended in the rack, and control means operable responsive to raising the conveyor for selectively positioning the conveyor vertically in the rack with the pallets thereon immediately above a shelf being loaded or unloaded.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in combinaticn with means to withdraw the conveyor from the rack operable responsive to completion of the loading or unloading thereof.

6. In apparatus for loading pallets and the like into and removing the same from a rack embodying a plurality of superposed shelves, a shuttle conveyor, means to extend the conveyor into a rack, means to place pallets on the conveyor for loading into the rack, means to raise the shuttle conveyor to a position slightly above one of the shelves, means operable responsive to raising the conveyor to said position to stop and hold the conveyor in raised position, to drive the conveyor thereby to position the pallets thereon over the shelf, means operable responsive to the positioning of said pallets to stop the conveyor when the pallets reach said position and to lower the conveyor to starting position for the reception of other pallets, thereby to deposit said pallets on said shelf, and controls for the shuttle conveyor constructed and arranged to effect unloailting by the same of pallets from the loaded rac 7. In apparatus for loading pallets and the like into racks, each of which embodies at least two centrally open shelves disposed one over the other, a stationary conveyor, a shuttle conveyor adapted to extend outwardly from the stationary conveyor into the racks and when so extended to receive pallets from the stationary conveyor, elevating and lowering mechanism for raising the shuttle conveyor and pallets thereon to position for loading the upper shelf, controls operable responsive to movement of pallets onto the shuttle conveyor to actuate the lift mechanism and operable responsive to arrival of the shuttle conveyor at said loading position to deactuate said mechanism, a motor for operating the shuttle Fconveyor, controls operable responsive to arrival of the shuttle conveyor at said loading position to energize the motor and move the pallet into the rack over the upper shelf, controls operable responsive to arrival of the pallets over the upper shelf to actuate the lowering mechanism and lower the shuttle conveyor for the reception of other pallets, other controls for p0- sitioning the conveyor in loading position with respect to the lower shelf and to load the same and lower the conveyor, and means responsive to completion of loading of the lower shelf to retract the shuttle conveyor from the rack.

8. In apparatus for loading pallets and the like into racks each of which embodies at least two centrally open shelves disposed one over the other, a conveyor disposed to receive the loaded pallet, means to extend the conveyor into the rack with a loaded pallet thereon disposed outside of the rack, means operable responsive to the reception of the pallet to raise the conveyor to loading position with respect to the upper shelf, means operable responsive to the arrival of the conveyor at said loading position to actuate the conveyor thereby to move pallets thereon into the rack over the upper shelf, means operable responsive to the arrival of the pallets over the upper shelf to lower the conveyor for reception of other pallets, means operable responsive to the reception of other pallets to raise the conveyor to leading position with respect to the lower shelf, means operable responsive to the arrival of the conveyor at loading position with respect to the lower shelf to actuate the conveyor thereby to move the pallets thereon into the rack over the lower shelf, and means operable responsive to arrival of the pallets over the lower shelf to lower the conveyor and retract the same from the rack.

9. In apparatus of the character described, a stationary conveyor disposed to receive pallets loaded with blocks, a shuttle conveyor embodying a pair of chains onto which pallets are delivered from the stationary conveyor, a frame for supporting the chains, a first hydraulic cylinder for moving the frame inwardly and outwardly with respect to the stationary conveyor, a rack conveyor disposed to receive and position multishelved racks in front of the shuttle conveyor whereby when moved outwardly the outer end of the shuttle conveyor enters the rack, a second hydraulic cylinder having a piston rod operatively connected to the frame for raising the shuttle conveyor, an electric motor carried by the frame and disposed to drive the shuttle conveyor chains, controls for the first cylinder to move the shuttle conveyor outwardly into a rack, other controls operable responsive to arrival of the shuttle conveyor within the rack to raise the same to loading position with respect to an upper shelf thereof, controls for energizing and stopping the motor to position the pallet on the chains over the upper shelf, controls for the first cylinder to lower the shuttle conveyor for the gamma-am E In by um mama am; :wmsam mm mm swatch "ma ma ammany @peutea "valve, them-y -20 lbwi 5112 shame wwaamwmn the easana swan- 2a ROBERT-M. GRAY. 

